Oral

Transportation choices have enormous impacts on public health at the individual, household, community, national, and international levels. Impacts include direct health effects of proximity to traffic; availability of active transport options such as walking and biking that directly improve health; effects on the viability of communities through decisions about locations of residential areas and employment sources; and effects on climate change resulting from fuels used. Yet, we are at the beginning of efforts to design transportation policies that are cognizant of public health. This session will provide participants with current information about essential developments in this new and exciting area of public health. The session features a comprehensive meta analysis of the evidence base for health impacts of residential proximity to traffic; new models for transportation impacts that address and illustrate equity concerns; current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how transportation policy can incorporate public health concerns; and findings from an analysis of intervention strategies that are working today to improve public health. This session is essential for researchers and practitioners who want to get up to date or remain current with this rapidly-developing field.

Session Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: Identify key elements of the evidence base for health impacts of residential proximity to traffic; Discuss recommendations for transportation policies that are good for public health; and Describe interventions that have been used successfully to improve health related aspects of transportation policies.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)